Chapter 478 (1/2)

“Drag your voice from your stomach and throw it out. Remember that the sound will meet less resistance if you expand your throat.”

Suyeon walked around placing her hands on the members’ stomachs to help them with their vocalization.

“Aram, relax your shoulders. Are you nervous?”

“It’s not like that, but I subconsciously end up tensing.”

“Look at me. Pull up your shoulders like you’re pulling them up to your ear level. Then let them go. It is true that you must watch your breathing, but if you focus on that too much, you’ll end up tensing the area around your tr.a.p.ezius muscle. That is even worse than just not watching your breathing. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Feel where your breath brushes past in your body. Then, imagine that the breath you just inhaled is going past your lungs, through your stomach, down to your t.h.i.g.hs, knees then your toes, then comes back up in the opposite order before bursting out. Haaa, haa. That’s right. Don’t let the breath and the voice play separately, let your breath carry your voice. Don’t roll up your tongue! Don’t brush the top of your mouth with your breath!”

Good - she added before going over to the next person. Since she couldn’t visit that many times recently due to her drama schedule, Suyeon stuck around till the end of practice, perhaps out of apology, or perhaps because she had free time.

‘She must have some feelings of responsibility.’

Suyeon stood in front of Maru, who was breathing out. After watching for a while, she made a smile before walking right past him. Maru exercised like he usually did and continued the vocal practice.

“Stop. Well done for today. You guys must be having a hard time since you’re trying your hand at a play different than the one you did in the summer.”

“Doing the same one again is just no fun,” Aram chuckled as she replied.

“Looks like you guys practiced pretty hard while I wasn’t here. You’re at a level where it would be fine for you to go up on stage now. As long as you polish your foundations a little more, you’ll see good results.”

Suyeon pressed down her baseball cap before picking up her bag.

“Since you’re at it, let’s give it one more push. Oh, once you’re done with the performance, we’ll hold an afterparty at my house again, okay?”

“Without the alcohol this time,” said Bangjoo as he shook his head.

Last time, he had a hard time thanks to alcohol. Suyeon accepted it.

“Thank you for your work.”

They clapped to signal the end of practice as always.

“Han Maru.”

Suyeon, who was leaving through the back door, called out to Maru and gestured to him to follow her. Maru put down the desk he was carrying and left the classroom.

“Our cute little brother.”

Suyeon approached him with a smile on her face. Maru immediately took a step back to put some distance.

“Why are you acting like that? You’re such a cold guy.”

“Why are you acting like that then? It’s creepy.”

“Can’t you see that I want to look after the junior of the agency as a senior?”

“What a disappointment. You fail to understand my feelings.”

After making a disappointed face, Suyeon sighed before crossing her arms.

“You are going to take the audition for New Semester, right?”

“The agency told me to, so I have to.”

“You know that I was cast there as a trainee teacher, right?”

“I didn’t, because I’m not someone who goes around digging into other people’s private lives. But is there a problem with that?”

“What problem could there be? I said I was just trying to cheer you on.”

Making a prankful smile, Suyeon tried to poke Maru’s cheek. Maru pushed her finger away with his hand. Suyeon didn’t give up and tried to do it again, but Maru kept pushing her finger away since he didn’t want it.

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“Wow, what a disappointment. Didn’t we spend a romantic night together in a villa once? You even peeked at my inner workings.”

“Should I tell what you just said to Geunsoo-hyung?”

“Why can’t you take a joke? But hey, what is Mr. Geunsoo up to these days? We belong to the same agency, but I can’t seem to contact him.”

“So that’s your objective after all?”

“Don’t call it an objective. I’m just giving words of encouragement to my adorable junior while asking what Mr. Geunsoo is up to on the side. Don’t you think we’re lacking teamwork even though we belong to the same company?”

“Why don’t you give up already? Geunsoo-hyung looks like he doesn’t even have this much interest in you at all,” said Maru as he showed her his pinky fingernail. Suyeon looked at the ceiling and made a sad face.

“You know, these days, I lost contact with everyone. All the men that had interest in me are being too cautious.”

“There was a big event, so I’m not surprised.”

“This is different from s.e.x.u.a.l bribery. Those girls just didn’t enjoy it, while I did.”

Hearing his words, Suyeon chuckled.

“What horrible thing are you talking about? Are you serious?”

“I was just joking. But don’t go around teasing pure men. That’s just too pitiful.”

“Love is always about give and take. I can make a request since there’s something in me that the man wants. Even the guys that talk about platonic love are all the same when they go to bed. They think about nothing but discharging their d.e.s.i.r.es.”

“What a good thing to say in front of a high school student.”

“You’re my stress relief window. It’s your fault for consulting me all the time, making me say everything in front of you.”

“It’s you who blabs on about things because you’re drunk, you know? It will be bad if there’s an issue with your memory at such a young age. I heard that Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t care about age these days.”

“I’m too healthy to catch something like that.”

Suyeon stretched her arms out with a refreshed smile.

“Were we friends? Ever?”

“We weren’t? Best friends that share our secrets?”

“You know a secret of mine?”

“I know the secret that you know my secret.”

“What an amazing secret that is.”

Maru didn’t talk anymore and looked at Suyeon. Suyeon calmed down again.

“You look like you have something to ask. And something important too.”

“You told me that Lee Miyoon is the madam last time, right?”

“Ah, the madam.”

“What about her?”

“I was wondering if you knew anything about her other than the rumors.”